France has stated that the allegation by the Niger Republic claiming that they are colluding with Nigeria to destabilize their country is groundless.
Recall that the Nigerien military Leader, Abdourahamane Tchiani, had accused France of plotting to destabilise the country by using neighbouring Benin and Nigeria as a base for attacks.
Tchiani, who spoke in Hausa in an interview, alleged that France was negotiating with terrorists in Nigeria to destabilise his country.
He said France made a “substantial payment to President Bola Tinubu” to establish a military base in Nigeria.
“They (France) met and negotiated with Boko Haram/Bakurawa (a possible variation of the pronunciation of Lakurawa, a new terrorist group in Nigeria).”
However, Political Counsellor to the Embassy of France in Nigeria, Bertrand de Seissan, dismissed the allegation while addressing newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja.
“This allegation is groundless. This has never been discussed, nor even suggested by either France or Nigeria,” the political counsellor said.
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron has criticized African Sahel states for failing to acknowledge France’s role in preventing their nations from falling under militant control.
Speaking on France’s security-focused relationship with its former colonies, Macron emphasized that French troops were deployed to West African countries at the request of their governments.
In a video shared by BBC on Monday, Macron expressed his disappointment as French forces began their withdrawal from Ivory Coast in January. This follows earlier withdrawals from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
The French military had been asked to leave several countries in the region, including Mali, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, and Benin
Macron said: “We had a relationship based on security. It was, in fact, two-fold: on one hand, it was our engagement against terrorism since 2013. We were right. I think someone forgot to say thank you. It’s okay; it will come with time. Ungratefulness, I know too well, is a disease that can’t be transmitted to man, but I say this is for all African heads of state who have not had the courage, in the face of public opinion, to hold that view. None of them would be a sovereign state today if the French army hadn’t deployed in the region.”
